The Town FilesIthaca, New York
Town in Tompkins County · population 22,283 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $368,700
- Household income
- $105,978
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 29.3
Ithaca is a town of 22,283 people in Tompkins County, New York. The median home is worth $368,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of New York towns, better for cycling than 92% of New York towns, hipper than 90% of New York towns.
How Ithaca ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ithaca is worth $368,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $105,978, which is more affordable than 35% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,558 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ithaca | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,558 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $105,978 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Ithaca
| People | Ithaca | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.4% | — |
| Work from home | 25.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Ithaca
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ithaca since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 28, 2011 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Tompkins County since 1996
Tompkins County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 13, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4031: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Tompkins County
Tompkins County had 48,051 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,770 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Ithaca itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Ithaca
1 public school with 177 students, about 7.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENFIELD SCHOOL | PK-5 | 177 | 7.1 |
Towns near Ithaca
- South Hill, NY2.5 mi · 7,245 people · home $353,800
- Ithaca, NY2.8 mi · 32,108 people · home $342,700
- East Ithaca, NY4.2 mi · 3,175 people · home $332,700
- Enfield, NY4.5 mi · 3,362 people · home $224,000
- Cayuga Heights, NY4.6 mi · 4,114 people · home $433,000
- Northeast Ithaca, NY5.4 mi · 2,701 people · home $402,000
- Lansing, NY5.9 mi · 3,648 people · home $516,900
- Newfield, NY6.4 mi · 5,126 people · home $171,300
Ithaca questions
Is Ithaca, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ithaca scores better for retirees than 53% of New York towns and quieter than 16%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.3).
How much does a house cost in Ithaca?
The median owner-occupied home in Ithaca is valued at $368,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,978, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,558 a month.
What is the weather like in Ithaca?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 62.9 inches of snow.
Does Ithaca get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ithaca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 28, 2011. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)